Lens to Law: Documentary Evidence for Policymakers
What Makes Our Work Different
Wail of a Tale Productions doesn't create documentaries for Netflix. We create permanent evidence tools for legislators, state agencies, and educational institutions. Our "Lens to Law" approach means every film we produce is designed to function as testimony, training material, and policy reference — not just media content.
When you need evidence to support legislation, educate staff, or demonstrate impact to constituents, our documentaries provide credible, expert-vetted documentation that holds up under scrutiny.
Proven Track Record: Films That Became Policy Tools
"The Takeover of Testing" (2012)
- First real-time documentation of Chicago's school-to-prison pipeline
- Adopted by Chicago Teachers Union for member training
- Used by workplace organizations to educate thousands of educators on systemic inequities
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Mobilized tens of thousands in the Opt Out movement to end standardized testing
"Maria's Story: Undocumented Violence" (2019)
- Examined violence against undocumented immigrant women
- Integrated into Archdiocese of Chicago Domestic Violence Outreach Program operations
- Required viewing for university social work students across multiple institutions
- Continues to inform frontline service delivery protocols
"Cutting Costs/Cutting Lives" (In Production)
- Documents the dismantling of U.S. public health infrastructure and its impact on Long COVID
- Focuses on 5.8 million children affected by Long COVID
- Designed for state health departments, legislative committees, and public health officials
Why Legislators Choose Our Work
Our films don't disappear after a screening. They become:
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Legislative testimony evidence that you can reference in committee hearings
- Staff training materials for state agencies and departments
- Constituent education tools that explain complex health policy issues
- Academic resources that inform the next generation of public health professionals
We don't measure success by views. We measure it by institutional adoption and policy implementation.
Our Policy Expertise
With over 20 years of experience in policy analysis, public health investigation (including COVID-19 frontline work), and social determinants of health research, we understand what policymakers need:
- Evidence that withstands opposition scrutiny
- Clear documentation of disparate impact on marginalized communities
- Expert interviews with credentialed researchers and practitioners
- Data visualization that communicates complex issues to diverse audiences
We've built a national network in Long COVID advocacy since 2020 and maintain direct relationships with public health leadership across multiple states.
Contact Us for Policy Collaboration
If your state is addressing:
- Long COVID and post-pandemic public health infrastructure
- Health equity and disparities affecting racialized communities
- School-to-prison pipeline interventions
- Violence against immigrant populations
- Any social determinants of health requiring evidence-based documentation
We can help. Our films serve as ready-made policy tools, and we provide consultation on how to integrate documentary evidence into legislative strategy.
Contact: marty@wailofatale.org
Wail of a Tale Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a proven track record of creating documentary evidence that state agencies, unions, faith-based organizations, and universities have adopted into their operations. We turn stories into law.